Electrode for ion concentration effects



' av, 13 E923.

E. A. KEELER ELECTRODE FOR ION CONCENTRATION. EFFECTS Filed Nov. 30 1921Wo 5 .1 4 I lllll l 1/ llll INVENTOR.

1A TTORNEY.

Patented New. 113, 11923.

U N l ll" TI rear earner.

EARL A: OF NOREISTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA; ASSIGNOB T LElED 63 NORTHRUPCOMPANY, 0E1 LADELPHIEA, PENNSYLVANIA, A (MEL-QM- TION OF PENNSYLV t IELECTRODE FOR ION CONCENTRATKON EFFECTS.

Application filed November 30, 1921. serial Ho. emit To all whom it mayconcern:

Be it known that I, EARLA. Keenan, a citizen of the United States,residin in Norristown county 'of Montgomery, tate of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and. useful Improvements in Electrodes forIonConcentration Eflects, of which the foli lowing is. a specification.

My invention relates to electrodes for ion concentration eflectsutilizable for various purposes, such as the determination ormeasurement of ion concentration, for'efiecting any suitable control inresponse to changes in ion concentration, or for maintaining apredetermined ion concentration,- and for any other suitable purpose. pSo far as I am aware, heretofore electrodes of this character have beenof a type utilized in laboratories, more or less fragile, and ofstructure and character more or less unsuited for portability or. forpractical or commercial uses.

It is the object of my invention to provide electrode structures ofthe-character referred to which are rugged, portable, simple inconstruction, with parts easily removable or ac- I cessible forrejuvenation, cleansing or other treatment, orfor replacement, and ingeneral suitable for the harder usage encountered in practice andcommercial operations. To these ends I have devised electrodestructureshereinafter described.

For an illustration ofsome of the numerous forms my invention may take,reference is to be had to the accompanying drawin%, in which: I

ig. 1 comprises sectional views of the electrode structures, parts inelevation, in conjunction with one of numerous circuit arrangements inconnection with which they are utilizable. Fig. 2 is a perspective viewof a grid of one of the electrodes. f Fig. 3 is a sectional view of amodified structure.

able material, which may be formed in any suitable manner, as by moldingor othert5 wise. The upper end of the tube carries a cap 2, of anysuitable material, as insulating material of the character employed forthe tube 1, which may be threaded, as at 3, into the tube 1, a rubber orother gasket't formin ably material, is the inner tube 6, which may be435 threaded into the bore of the cap 2 at 7 and may consist of anysuitable material, as hardruber, bakelite, etc., as in the case of thetube 1. To the lower end of the tube as by threadin at 8, a hollow 7 6is attached member or bell9, of hard rub er or any other suitablematerial, which may have the perforations 10 or the open end. 11, or.both. Attached to the-lower end of the tube 1, as

by i-threadin 12, is a closure cap 13 of hard 7 'rubber or ot ersuitable insulating material, I,

a rubber or other gasket 14 being employedto efiect a tight joint.

Within the casing 9 is disposed a grid 15,

Figs. 1 and 2, as gauze or the like, of con- 81?? ductin material,forexample, platinum or equiva ent wire gauze. The grid may be disposedin any suitable conformation, either flat, as shown, cylindrical, aspiral roll, etc. There is applied to the grid 15 as 35 a coating asuitable material or paste 16, contacting with the grid elements andextending into the openings of the grid and covering its faces.

' To hold the coating in contact with the W 'gri'd, there is preferablyutilized a bag,

coaer or retainer 17. of any suitable porous material, as non-conductingor non-metallic fabric, as loth. For example, the cover-or bag 17 may beof silk cloth suitably bound around the grid and its coating. To thegrid 15 is connected a wire or conductor 18, as of platinum or othersuitable material,

Referring to the drawing, is any suitable container, in which isdisposed a batch of, or through which continuously flows a body of,electrolyte or equivalent 'solutlon E in which the electrodes areimmersed. The positive electrode structure P comprises a tube 1 ofinsulating material, such as hard rubber, c0ndensite,-bakel1te or othersuitwhich passes to the exterior of the casings and extendsalong thetube d and connects 1 to the exterior, as through a conductor 19 in theca 2. 1

A solut1on of suitable character is delivered from any suile reservoiror supply thereof through hose or other conduit, not shown, 1 to thenipple 5, through which it flows nto the electrolyte counicatin andthrough the tube 6, intothe chamber 9, wetting the paste or coating andthe grid 15. Such solution passes also into the space surrounding thechamber 9-within the tube 1.

The positive electrode proper is at grid 15, and the liquid at thecapillary or other restricted orifice communicates with the interior ofthe tube 1, solution finding its way from the interior of the tube 1 tothe orifice 20, when]? the solution contacts with As indicated, andpreferably, the orifice 20 is formed in a plug 21, of hard rubber orother suitable material, detachably secured, as by threading 22, to thetube 1, there being formed in the plug 21 a passage 23 communicatingwith the interior of the tube 1 and extending to the orifice 20. Tocfi'ect a tight joint between the plug 21 and tube 1, there may gasket24. The ntive electrode structure N comprises the tube 25, of anysuitable insulating material, as hard rubber, bakelite, etc, and may beformed in any suitable way, as by molding or otherwise.

with the upper end of the tube 25 is t e nipple or connection 26 throughwhich there is delivered into the .tube 25, from. any suitable supply,not shown,

a suitable fluid, as a gas. This fluid passes downwardly through thetube 25 into the casing .or chamber 27, of suitable insulating material,detachable from or integral with v the tube 25. In the exampleillustrated, the

casing 27 is threaded at 28 to the tube 25 and is detachable therefrom.Upon thetube 25 may be carried or secured the binding 7 post structure29, with which is connected a wire 30, of any suitable material, asplatin, which passes through the wall of the tube 25 and extends throughthe same to y the mouth of the casing 27. The wire 30 may extend throughthe wall of the casing 27 near its mouth, as indicated, whereby there isan exposed portion of the wire 30 upon the left edge of the casing 27.Against this bare portion of the wire 30 is held one or more perforateddisks 31 of conductin material, as metallic gauze, a perforated plate,or equivalent. The member 31 is held in position in contact with thewire 30 by the cap 32 threaded or otherwise attached to the casing 27,the cap 32 exerting pressure upon the member 31 to hold it firmly incontact with the conductor 30. Between I the member 31 and through theopening 35 in the cap 32 into the electrolyte E, through which it passesupwardly and escapes.

The natureof the material of the member be employed the rubber or otherAttached to and 31 is suited to the conditions under which employed, oris so chosen as to be adapted to the nature of the particular ion orions of the electrolyte E which are involved. Ordinarily, the member 31may be of platinum or gold, and is usually covered with platinum blackor the black of iridium, palladium or the like. When hydrogen ionconcentration is involved, hydrogen gas is delivered into the tube 25and through th member 31. When the concentration of other than hydrogenions is involved, the negative electrode, instead of being a hydrogenexample, if concentration of chlorine ions is involved, chlorine gas maybe delivered through the tube 25 and the member 31. For oxidation andreduction determinations or efiects the negative electrode may be themember 31, of platinum, and no gas is delivered through the tube 25,because of which in such case the member 31 need not be perforated, andin lieu of it may be used any ordinary platinum electrode structure.

When the concentration of hydrogen ions is involved, the nature of theliquid introduced through the nipple 5 and the tube 6 y be a solution ofpotassium chloride, for example, a tenth normal solution. The paste or.coating 16 upon the grid 15 may be mercury, water and cal'omel(monochloride of mercury), beaten or otherwise suitably worked together,the positive electrode structure accordingly, in this example,constituting a so-called calomel half cell.

It will be understood that my invention is not limited, as to either thepositive or negative electrode, to the particular materials described,it bein within the skill of the art to vary the duids, liquids and gasesemployed, the nature of the material of the member 31 and nature of thepaste or coating 16, toadapt the electrode structures to the particularconditions or circumstances under which they are to be employed.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that I have devisedelectrode structures which are rugged and practically unbreakable :inordinary usage, portable, and suited for shipment from place to place.

The positive. electrode structure is of a character which may beshippedready for use, it being only necessary to connect the nipple5'with a reservoir of suitable solution to flow into the electrodestructure, intermittently or continuously, to flush out the orifice 20.Respecting the negative electrode structure, it is apparent that the gasor fluid delivered through the tube 25 passes from one side to the otherof the member 31, that is, passes through it, as distinguished fromaround it or in contact with opposite faces, as in the case of theordinary hydrogen electrode heretofore commonly used.

electrode, will be suitably dider'ent. For

aerator reflect of deposits from the solution E upon the electrodemember, and accordingly saturation of the electrode member, as 31, withgas or fluid delivered through the tube 25 is not prevented or long doayed. Furthermore, the gauze disk or perforated member 31 is readilyremovable, by simplyremovingthe cap 32, for platinizing orotherwise/coating with suitable black, or for ready inser-.

tion of a new or substitute member 31.

As indicated in Figs. 1 and 3, the gauze or other perforated disk ordisks 31may be backed by a disk or bafile member 31, preferably ofinsulating material, either porous or suitable perforated, for causingdistribu tion over the disk or disks 31 of the gas delivered through'thetube 25.

While I have illustrated the positive and negative structures 1? and Nas separate and distinct, it will be understood that they may be formedin a. single unit, as by suitably molding integral with each other thetubes 1 and 25, or other parts, as in'Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 3, the positive and neg-' ative electrode structuresare shown combined as a unit by recourse to the block or mass B ofmolded or otherwise formed insulating material, as hard rubber,condensite, bakelite, etc. The grid of the positive electrode structureis disposed in a cavity in the block. B, the coated grid being insertedupon removal of the plug .13 sealed by gasket 14. The solution is, asbefore, delivered through the connection or nipple 5 and passes throughthe bore or tube 6 over the grid and through the bore 23 of the plug 21to the restricted or capillary orifice 20. Connection is made trom'thegrid 15 by the conductor 18, which may be molded in the block B, or, asindicated, may extend through the tube 6 to the binding post 18 securedto or molded on the block B. Similarly, the gas for the negativeelectrode is dellvered through the connection or nipple 26 and passesthrough the bore or tube through the distributingmember31 to the gauzeor other electrode 31 held in position in a recess communicating withthe tube 25 by the removable, plug 32, as in Fig. 1. The conductor. 30connecting with the disk 31 'may be moldfl within the block B, or, asind cated. may extend through the'tube 25 to the binding post 30 secured(to or molded on the block B. i V I Y i This arrangement constitutes aunit of bothlitive and negave electrode structureawhich is M y ruggedand comact. I r -'lh(1ai"pii the; of illustration merely, and withoutlimitation of my inventlon, the electrodes are shown as connected withsuitable apparatus for-measuring voltages or diderences of potentialwhich are representative of the ion concentration. The measuring post 29and therefore with the perforated member 31. The contact 37 is movedalong the resistance R to such position that the deflection of thegalvanometer G is nil, in which case the fall of otential across thatpart of the resistance to the left of the contact 37 is equal to thepotential. difierence or voltage produced b the calomel half cell andhydrogen electro e in contact with the electrolyte E. Such potentialdifference or voltage may then be directly read upon the deflectingvoltmeter V.

It will be understood that the electrodes may be used in any othersuitable relation, as for control, by thepotential difi'erence producedby them, of any suitable apparatus for any suitable purpose, or in anysuitable relation.

* What I claim is:

1. Electrode structure comprising a member of insulating material havinga pas sage, a second perforated member of conducting material extendingacross said passage and adapted for immersion in liquid, an electricalconnectionwith said second member, and means for conducting fluidthrough said passage to said second member.

2. Electrode structure comprising a member of insulating material havinga passage, a second perforated member of conductin material extendingacross said-passage an adapted for immersion in liquid, an electricalconnection with said second member extending through said passage. andmeans for conducting fluid through said passage to ber forming a wall oisaid casing and through'which gas passes from said tube and casing.

6. Electrode structure comprising a tube of insulating material, acasing on one end thereof, a perforated conducting member forming a wallof said casing and through which gas passes from said tube and casing,

outer tube, an inner tube through which fluid is delivered into saidouter tube, a grid carried by said inner tube in the path of the fluiddelivered from said innertube to said outer tube, said outer tube havinga passage to the exterior having a restricted orifice, and an electricalconnection with said grid extending between said tubes.

28. Electrode structure comprising an outer tube, a cap thereon, aninner tube supported by said cap, a casing on the end of said innertube, a coated grid within said casing, a restricted fluid connectionfrom the interior to the exterior of said outer tube, and'an electricalconnection with said grid extending between said tubes.

-'29. A calomel halt cell comprising an outer tube, an inner tube forconducting fluid into said outer tube, a passage having a capillaryorifice communicating with the interior of said outer tube, a gridcoated with a mixture of calomel and mercury dis- I posed in the fluidpath between said inner tube and said orifice,and an electricalconnection with said grid extending between said tubes.

30. Gas electrode structure comprising a member having a gas passage, aperforated conducting member extending across said passage and throughwhich said gas passes,

, and gas distributing means between said passage and said conductingmember.

31. Gas electrode structure comprising a member having a gas passage, aperforated conducting member extending across said passage and throughwhich said gas passes, and a gas distributing member backing Saidconducting member.

32. An electrode unit comprising a block of insulating material having aplurality of independent fluid passa es therein, a perforated conductingmem er disposed across one of said passages, a conductor connected withsaid member, a member having a fluid passage communicating with anotherof said passages and terminating in a restricted orifice, a griddisposedbetween said other of said passages and said orifice, and an electricalconnection with said d.

33. An electrode unit comprising a block and an electrical connectionwith said grid.

34. An electrode unit comprising a structure provided with fluidpassages, one end of each passage being adapted to be placed incommunication with a body of electrolyte, a perforated conducting memberdisposed across one of said passages, a conducting member disposedwithin another of said fluid passages, and electrical connections forsaid conducting members.

35. An electrode'unit comprising a structure provided with fluidpassages, one end of each passage bein adapted to be placed incommunication with a body of: electrolyte, a perforated conductingmember disposed across one of said passages, a conducting memberdisposed within another of said fluid passages, and electricalconnections for said conducting members, communication between saidsecond named passage and said A body of electrolyte being through arestricted orifice.

36. All electrode unit comprising a structure provided with fluidpassages, one end of each passage being adapted to be placed incommunication with a body of electrolyte, a conducting member disposedwithin each of said passages, and electrical connections for saidconducting members, communication between one of said passages and saidbody of electrolyte being through a capillary orifice.

37. Gas electrode structure comprising means for directing a flow of gasalong a definite path, and a perforated conductin member disposedentirely across said pet and through which said gas passes.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto atfixed my signature this 23rd dayof November, 1921.

